IBA Local Action Fund

Thanks to a generous grant from the Gosling Foundation, Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada are injecting new energy into the Important Bird and Biodiversity (IBA) program. Over the past 20 years, millions of dollars and tens of thousands of hours of volunteer hours have been invested in protecting birds at Canada’s IBAs. We are committed to keeping Canada’s IBAs as a centrepiece of our site-related bird conservation work.

From 2008 to 2014, Nature Canada and BSC established the IBA Caretaker network, delivered with provincial nature network partners, and in some cases First Nation partners, aimed to get an ‘on-the-ground” stewardship and advocacy presence in IBAs from local groups and individuals. Over this entire period, Nature Canada and BSC have worked hard to protect Canada’s IBAs through outreach, advocacy with governments and industry, and mobilization of citizen scientists to monitor IBAs.

This year, we have launched a new phase of IBA conservation work: the IBA Local Action Fund. Twelve projects were selected, including three in Nova Scotia, one in New Brunswick, one in PEI, one in Newfoundland-Labrador, three in Quebec, two in Manitoba and two in British Columbia. Thanks to the support of the Gosling Foundation—and your membership—Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada are working with local groups on specific projects to protect, restore and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. Here are a few features on how we are putting your membership to work protecting Canada’s birds!

Black Oystercatchers

Laskeek Bay IBA, Charlotte BC

Project: Fostering local champions to protect seabirds

Summary:

The Laskeek Bay Conservation Society will work with local individuals to monitor and manage invasive predator species, namely racoons and rats, that are threatening breeding birds in the Laskeek Bay IBA. The Laskeek Bay IBA is a nationally significant breeding site for a multitude of seabird species, including Ancient Murrelets, Pigeon Guillemots, Black Oystercatchers, and Glaucous-winged Gulls. The Laskeek Bay Conservation Society will continue to develop environmental stewards and enhance local capacity to understand and support this IBA.

On the ground efforts: The Laskeek Bay Conservation Society will recruit local conservation champions to be trained on invasive species identification and management methods. In knowing that invasive species control can limit, if not reverse, seabird population decline, this initiative will have a substantial positive impact on conserving the seabird populations within the Laskeek Bay IBA. The Laskeek Bay Conservation Society will continue to monitor breeding population changes compared to long-term trends, in order to measure potential success. Combined, these field-based learning opportunities will enhance local capacity to understand and identify invasive species, it will enhance community understanding of IBAs and the threats they face, and it will develop local champions for the Laskeek Bay IBA in particular.

Great Blue Heron by Jim Dubois

K’ómoks IBA on the Coast of British Colombia

Project: Working With First Nations Guardian Watchmen on the K’omoks IBA.

Summary:

BC Nature is currently working with First Nations Guardian Watchmen, who monitor & protect lands & waters on First Nations’ territories along the Vancouver Island coast. The partnership works to identify shared bird conservation issues and lay the groundwork to integrate bird monitoring into current Guardian Watchmen stewardship programs. Due in part to remote locations, few bird-focused conservation measures and monitoring programs have been conducted within many coastal IBAs, despite the increasing threats of disturbance from shipping, oil spills, recreational activity, and fisheries.

On the ground efforts: Expansion of the Caretaker Network will increase the 'eyes on the water' for better conservation that will benefit both birds and biodiversity, enhancing overall ecological monitoring. BC Nature has had a long-time goal to work more closely with First Nations to achieve common conservation objectives. These groups will increase monitoring to gather important bird data, particularly for waterbird populations in the IBA, and increase engagement of the public through the collective efforts of the KGW and IBA Program partners. These efforts will reduce threats to birds in the IBA as well as raise awareness of other activities that impact birds. A key feature of the K’ómoks Guardian Watchmen Program is public education, an aspect shared with the IBA Program. The K’ómoks First Nation is proactive in working with partners through the Guardian Watchman Program to protect the region’s natural resources from further degradation and to maintain and enhance the ecological health of the territory.

Burrowing Owl

Oak and Plum Lakes IBAs, Manitoba

Project: Cultivating local leadership to protect a mosaic of habitats and species.

Summary:

Oak Lake and Plum Lakes IBA provides a unique mosaic of habitats on the northeast periphery of the Northern Great Plains. Oak Lake is part of the Eastern Mixed-grass Prairie Regional Priority Area, an area prioritized for its high biodiversity value, high concentration of Species At Risk, and its unique ecological/biological landscapes. These diverse habitats are home to a number of species that need protection. Nature Manitoba will work with indigenous groups and non-indigenous communities to establish a caretaker and stewardship network for this IBA.

On the ground efforts: Nature Manitoba seeks to establish greater local community involvement in the conservation of grassland areas of this IBA. The Manitoba IBA Program will reach out to indigenous and non-indigenous communities to establish a caretaker and stewardship network for these IBAs. Nature Manitoba aims to recruit local volunteer caretakers and bird monitors to monitor the grassland birds and habitats of this area which is vulnerable to so many competing pressures. Through a series of outreach and monitoring events, the community partners hope to raise awareness of the importance of native prairie for birds and foster a sense of local ownership for native grassland habitat in order to provide greater support for the conservation of these rare habitats.

Nature Manitoba will be working to engage local community members from Churchill and local First Nations in stewardship and monitoring on Hudson Bay coastal IBAs. The IBAs of Manitoba’s Hudson Bay lowlands are poorly known and susceptible to a range of threats from climate change to disturbance. This area is of high significance for many species including Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Black Scoter, Rusty Blackbird, Red Knot, Hudsonian Godwit and Cackling Goose. An active caretaker group will raise awareness of this area for High Arctic shorebirds, working with tour groups to ensure that guides operate sensitively and any new infrastructure is carefully considered.

Churchill and Vicinity IBA - This is the ideal gateway for accessing the northern Hudson Bay IBAs. The IBA supports significant concentrations of Rusty Blackbird, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Red Knot.

Nelson River Estuary and Marsh Point IBA - This IBA is the gateway to Manitoba’s eastern Hudson Bay IBA’s and is an important staging area for Red Knot.

Kaskattama River Estuary IBA- The IBA has significant concentrations of Hudsonian Godwit and Cackling Goose.

On the ground efforts: Nature Manitoba will work with local groups, ecotourism business, indigenous groups and individuals to create a caretaker network for all of the Hudson Bay Lowland IBAs. The IBAs on the Hudson Bay lowlands need an active caretaker network to increase knowledge of bird populations and movements, acting as an early warning system to understand how climate change is affecting us. An active caretaker group will raise awareness of this area for High Arctic shorebirds, working with tour groups to ensure that guides operate sensitively and any new infrastructure is carefully considered and even encourage tour guides to use IBA Protocol on eBird with their sightings.

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Minas Basin IBA in Nova Scotia (Bay of Fundy)

Project: Developing a Safe Shorebird Roost Site in the Minas Basin IBA.

Summary:

The food-rich mudflats of the Minas Basin IBA support over 100,000 Semipalmated Sandpipers in addition to tens of thousands of other shorebirds during fall migration. Because of its very high ecological value as shorebird stopover site, the Minas Basin is designated as both an IBA of global significance (Semipalmated Sandpiper is the primary IBA trigger species) and a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site of hemispheric importance.

A number of beaches are primary high tide roost sites used by shorebirds in the Minas Basin IBA. Intense summer recreational pressures, particularly striped bass fishing, coincide with peak fall migration in August. This project seeks to develop long-term solutions to creating safe spaces for roosting shorebirds by engaging local recreational users at each roost site as well as establish partners within the IBA, including local businesses and tourism operators.

Species that need protecting: The mudflats of the Minas Basin IBA are a crucial shorebird stopover site, supporting over 100,000 Semipalmated Sandpipers and tens of thousands of other shorebirds during migration.

On the ground efforts: The Bird Studies Canada Atlantic Region group aims to establish a community of understanding and awareness of the importance of finding and maintain safe spaces for roosting is crucial as birds store energy and prepare for long migrations over the Atlantic Ocean. This project will engage local citizens to raise awareness and create more safe spaces for shorebirds. This project seeks to develop long-term solutions to creating safe spaces for roosting shorebirds by engaging local recreational users at each roost site. The groups will build partnership within the IBA, including local businesses and tourism operators, to work collaboratively with coastal users to develop and test conservation strategies.

Project: Collaborative effort to protect the Roseate Tern breeding colony in the gulf of Maine.

Summary:

This is a collaborative effort between stewards from Université Sainte-Anne and long-time North Brother Island IBA steward to protect the Roseate Tern population on North Brother Island through habitat assessment and enhancement activities and human impact mitigation. In order to protect the North Brother Island IBA, the Roseate Tern and other species of conservation interest, the group will experiment with different management techniques to protect nesting Roseate Tern from predators and habitat degradation.

Threats: The Roseate Tern population are threatened by predation from gulls, invasive plant species, and human disturbance.Major threats to terns and their habitat on the island include predation by gulls, invasive weed encroachment on Roseate nest boxes and nesting habitat of Common and Arctic Terns, and erosion and damage by storms to nesting habitat and Roseate nest boxes.

Species that need protecting: Roseate Tern- North Brother Island currently supports 70% of the entire Canadian Roseate nesting population.

On the ground efforts: This is a collaborative effort between stewards from Université Sainte-Anne and long-time North Brother Island IBA stewards to protect the threatened Roseate Tern populations as well as the other vulnerable breeding bird species, by managing gull populations using targeted nonlethal control. The groups will increase local awareness and stewardship capacity by engaging local residents and boaters. Recruiting and training community members stewardship practices for the North Brother IBA, most notably gull observations, habitat assessment and enhancement, debris removal, nest box management, recording and reporting Roseate Tern band observations, putting up and maintaining educational signage, and meeting with local boaters.

Local groups hope to minimize human disturbance of tourism while educating visitors of the importance of the Island Nature Trust IBA and the Piping Plovers that breed there. The Island Nature Trust plan to employ staff and organize volunteers to develop and deliver conservation conscious training programs and educational materials to the community in order to protect the Piping Plovers. Building the capacity of local watershed groups and Mi’kmaq resources and conservation groups will grow community awareness and support local decision-making that considers IBAs in the context of their ecological sensitivities.

Threats: Threats to the IBA’s in PEI include high levels of human and vehicle traffic, unleashed dogs invading nesting areas, and lack of paths to steer visitors away from nesting areas.

Species that need protecting: Piping plovers – endangered.

On the ground efforts: The partners will work to raise awareness and train watershed crews, Mi’kmaq groups, summer visitors who work or spend time in IBAs but have little experience with land conservations issues to understand how to minimize human impact inside the IBAs. As IBAs on PEI are popular beaches destinations for locals and visitors, public events in each county will be used as a method of disseminating information and connecting individuals experience with conservation-minded values. Written material and reference guides will be developed and given out to increase knowledge of wildlife species to encourage development of regulations that protect and respect the needs of local wildlife.

Atlantic Puffin by Chris MacDonald

Point Lepreau and Maces Bay IBAs surrounding the Bay of Fundy, NB

Project: Co-operative efforts to protect the Bay of Fundy from potential oil spills.

Summary:

The entire Bay of Fundy is of critical importance for the Atlantic Flyway, which migrating birds use in spring and fall as they travel between breeding and overwintering grounds. With existing shipping and industrial activity and the potential of increased oil tanker traffic from the Energy East project, there is real concern about the impact of potential oil spills on birds and marine life. As Energy East has demonstrated little interest in studying the impact of oil spills, Nature NB wishes to work with local partners to develop a strategy to increase awareness of the risks and impact of oil spills, encourage action at local IBAs and incite public insistence on protecting the environment upon which so many birds populations depend. The goal is to influence Energy East to implement adequate safety measures to protect migratory birds and their habitat.

Where: New Brunswick IBAs surrounding the Bay of Fundy including Point Lepreau and Maces Bay

Nature Canada Partner: Nature New Brunswick

Threats to IBAs: Potential oil spills resulting from proposed development of the Energy East pipeline, creation of large oil storage facilities along the coast and use of tankers to transport oil through the Bay of Fundy.

Species that need protecting: Close to 500 bird species pause to rest and refuel in the Bay of Fundy during their migratory journeys. In particular, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Black Scoters and Atlantic Puffins.

On the ground efforts: The partners hope to raise the visibility of IBAs and strengthen local ownership and interest in critical habitats through developing and distributing educational materials, organizing local trips to IBAs, giving presentations in communities, creating local stewardship groups and encouraging citizen science initiatives. Specifically targeting local school children, NGOs, nature clubs, governments and agencies, industrial companies, service groups, media etc in order to increase public understanding of the importance of the IBAs, potential risks and the need to protect them.

Project: Building apublic campaign to create new marine protected area that would protect coastal IBAs in Nova Scotia.

Summary:

Nova Scotia local groups seek to increase awareness in order to protect Port L’Hebert and Port Joli harbours IBA home to a number of species including: Ipswich Sparrows, Piping Plovers, Green-Winged Teals, Norther Pintails, Common Goldeneyes, Buffleheads and more. By engaging local residents, fishers, the Mi’kmaq community and local land owners, this project plans to create a committee of volunteers to work with Department of Fisheries and Oceans to protect the marine environment, bird life and biodiversity in these IBAs.

A committee of interested volunteers relying upon scientists and local leaders will develop a community outreach strategy to engage the community in supporting the proposed protected area. Educational information about the IBA, threats and species that call it home will be shared with community members via door-to-door surveys and interviews. Public meetings and periodic progress reports will keep the public informed throughout the process. At the end of the project, a standing committee to ensure ongoing community engagement will be established and a final proposal submitted to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on protecting the marine environment, bird life and biodiversity in these IBAs.

Summary: The “Societe Provancher d’histoire naturelle du Canada” with the collaboration of some partners, including scientists from universities, volunteers and environmental organizations, will undertake research to inform management actions to preserve nesting species on the island. They want to find the best method to manage Double-crested Cormorants in order to preserve a small population of breeding Common Eiders as well as some shorebirds. Their habitats are strongly impacted by the increase in cormorant populations.

Threats: The increase in cormorant population leads to the destruction of areas of vegetation used by Common Eiders during their nesting period. This habitat also serves as a nesting area for many other species that are also in decline.

Species that need protecting: Common Eider, shorebirds, Double-crested Cormorant included (and vegetation).

On the ground efforts: The Society already monitors breeding birds on the island. They intend to use best practices to discourage the Cormorants and encourage successful nesting of the Eiders. In order to identify the best management methods for the cormorants the Provancher society will conduct research into the interaction among seabirds, a detailed analysis of spring census results and existing studies on the impact of different management methods for managing nesting Cormorant populations. A final report will disseminate the results of the project to environmental and naturalist groups across Canada.

Project: Creating a community of concern for the Battures-de-Beauport IBA to protect Shorebirds .

Summary: The “Groupe d’éducation et d’écosurveillance de l’eau” (G3E) plans to create an educational program about the Les Battures de Beauport IBA called“1, 2, 3 ZICO!” project. The IBA is in a very heavily populated area with many sources of disturbance including industry, shipping, pollution and significant recreational pressures. The area is known for its huge concentrations of Snow Geese and also as a stop-over for migrating shorebirds.1, 2, 3 ZICO (Zone Important pour la Conservation des Oiseaux – the French name for IBAs). A month long campaign will raise awareness of the conservation issues affecting the IBA and the need for the development of solutions to protect the area among local residents and policy makers.

Threats: This IBA is situated near the port of Quebec City and along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, stretching to cover the north channel to about half-way along Ile d’Orléan. In addition to shipping traffic, pollution from industrial sources and cars, the area also has beaches and coastline that attracts recreationists including pleasure boats, sail boarders and kite flying. Finally the area is in proximity to people’s pets. Running dogs and roaming cats pose a threat to birds in the IBA.

Species that need protecting: Greater Snow Goose, Shorebirds and other water birds.

On the ground efforts: The G3E and its partners will organize activities that increase awareness and appreciation of the environment and conservation issues through a photo contest, developing a downloadable rally course to guide Facebook users to sites of importance, twitter chat focused on the IBA and its issues, shoreline clean ups, birding with experts, and education activities for schools.

Atlantic Puffin

Witless Bay, Newfoundland Labrador

Project: Engage local community in workshops to reduce human threats to Atlantic Puffin colony.

Summary:

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Newfoundland-Labrador Chapter aims to protect the Atlantic Puffin colonies in the Witless Bay, IBA. For six years, CPAWS NL has worked within communities in close proximity of the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve to rescue and release puffins and petrels who become stranded on the mainland because of attraction to artificial lights. Light attraction from the local town is a source of mortality for young birds. The CPAWS local chapter is working on a community solution to this problem so that young Atlantic Puffins and Leach’s Storm Petrels are not victims of local lights.

The project aims to reduce human disturbance to nesting seabirds in the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve IBA; to increase knowledge and engagement among local citizens in the stewardship of the IBA; to increase awareness of the IBA and its conservation needs among the general public and visitors to the region.

On the ground efforts: Science-based advocacy using census results, known threats, and positive stewardship. Targeted engagement organizing with municipal, tourism, enforcement, fisheries, and youth group leaders. Threat reduction and awareness raising. These will be accomplished by means of: workshop for residents; meetings with local leaders and boat operators; three summer workshops for youth, distribution of rack card (2,000); and installation of two interpretive panels at the mainland site.

Project: This project will improve local knowledge of the value of the Baie de Brador IBA, threats to its birds, and result in increased community engagement in IBA stewardship and support for the Migratory Bird and Sanctuary.

Summary:

Through meetings and workshops, the project will inform, guide, and motivate local leaders to reduce disturbance to the IBA and promote its ecological value. It will dispel misconceptions of the IBA and teach Migratory Bird/Sanctuary regulations. It will train youth to ID seabirds, prevent disturbance from boats, and conduct beach clean-ups. has been involved locally since 1963, knows business leaders and a local bird champion, and currently runs popular youth workshops with Intervale. QLF understands that people are concerned for the IBA but lack specific knowledge and incentive for pro-active conservation unless it benefits the local economy and helps preserve traditions.

On the ground efforts: Science-based advocacy using census results, known threats, and positive stewardship. Targeted engagement organizing with municipal, tourism, enforcement, fisheries, and youth group leaders. Threat reduction and awareness raising. These will be accomplished by means of: workshop for residents; meetings with local leaders and boat operators; three summer workshops for youth, distribution of rack card (2,000); and installation of two interpretive panels at the mainland site.

Double your impact by donating to support one of these local Important Bird Areas Action Fund!

Habitat degradation, climate change, pollution and human impact pose grave threats to Important Bird Areas and Canadians need to band together to protect these critical habitats and wildlife. The IBA Action Fund was created to give much needed funding to protect hundreds of species of birds across Canada – and now you can help too!

A donation today can mean twice as much; protect double the amount of habitat and conserve species two fold!

A gift today will be put to action to:

• Protect Habitat from several threats
• Save hundreds of species that call these IBAs home
• Help on the ground efforts to maintain and conserve IBAs for generations